Thursday, September 8, 2011

Essential oil for inhalation therapy

The uses of essential oil for inhalation therapy has a powerful effect on the sensory organs passed through by the active ingredients. It is known that sensors sense of smell in humans has high level of sensitivity. The sharpness of the sense of smell can be as high as 10,000 times more powerful than the sense of taste.
Aroma components of essential oil quickly interact when inhaled. These compounds interact with central nervous system and directly stimulate the olfactory system. Then this system will stimulate the nerves in the brain below the cerebral cortex equilibrium. The aromatic compounds or fragrance of a plant material has also showed to affect locomotor activity.
Locomotor activity is the activity of motion as a result of changes in electrical activity caused by permeability changes of postsynaptic membrane and by the release of the transmitter of neurons presynaptic at central nervous system.
Inhalation therapy using essential oil is very useful to overcome and alleviate the circumstances relating to the health condition of a person's body. They are especially the diseases associated with respiratory tract disorders and disturbances of other body systems. The purpose of the uses of essential oil for inhalation therapy is a way to channel the efficacy of that substances directly through passing its vapor directly or through the equipment for aromatherapy, such as inhalers tube and sprays, brazier, candles or electric heaters. Substances that are produced can be either gas, smooth steam droplets, smoke, and sublimation steam inhaled through the nose and swallowed through the mouth.
Aroma substances in the form of vapor droplet or in any other form that will moisten the respiratory tract by wetting the membrane on the nose, pharinks, trachea, bronchi, bronchiolus, and alveolus. In addition, the vapor can also affect one's psychological state through the stimulation received by the olfactory nerve terminal present in the mucous membranes of the nose, or the neural response area to other organs which the drops of vapor passing through.
The study of essential oils that affect locomotor activity initiated by Kovar et at. (1987) who reported that 1,8-cineole compounds isolated from rosemary oil can decrease locomotor activity of mice after the mice induced by caffeine stimulant compounds. Clinical testing of the sedative effects of lavender essential oil started by Buchbauer (1993) which has been proved that it can reduce locomotor activity in humans (Buchbauer, 1991). Etnofarmacology empirical studies on aromatherapy plants showed that Indonesia has 49 species of aromatic plants from 22 tribes, of which 12 types are used empirically as aromatherapy to soothe and refresh the body.
However, for certain purposes such as to dilute the phlegm or mucus in the respiratory tract, then the use of essential oil for inhalation therapy is not proven effective, contrary to traditional beliefs.